How to tell if a pear is ripe

The clearest sign that a pear is ready is that its skin color has lightened from dark green to a pale green or yellowish-green.

• The skin color has lightened from dark leaf-green to a lighter green or yellowish-green.
• The small dots (lenticels) on the fruit have changed from white or green to brown.
• The skin has a waxy feel and the pebbly surface has become smooth.
• The stem separates easily from the branch with a gentle upward twist of the fruit.
• The fruit feels firm but gives slightly to gentle thumb pressure near the stem end.